Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly, Regent 8040

Once upon a time in Arcadia, ladies and gentlemen in need of 'Food Stores for their Yachts' could obtain such from Fortnum & Mason of Piccadilly by getting their butler to telephone Regent 8040.  Such was the reputation of 'Fortnums' in supplying excellent food that they even advertised stores for those who were intent on spending part of their summer fishing for Tunny, sixty miles off the coast of Scarborough on the Dogger Bank.

Should you be a lady or a gentlemen abroad on the streets of London en route to Fortnums (which continues to trade today) to make arrangements for Food Stores for a forthcoming fishing excursion on the Dogger Bank or elsewhere, you are advised that in the east of the City at Spitalfields Antiques Market on Commercial Street in the district of London known as E.1 on Thursdays only between the hours of 8am and 3pm I buy and sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul from my stall as I have done for almost a decade.  Over a cup of tea, and a Fortnum's Shortbread Biscuit should you be coming FROM the direction of Piccadilly, I can tell you chapter and verse about much of the history of Tunny fishing in this country during the 1930's and on occasion may even have on the stall examples of the tackle which was typically used by those known as the 'Sunseekers'.   Thank-you.

Put the Flags Out

Bought early this morning in the clouds at Kempton a large heavy duty cotton hand-stitched Edwardian 'Sale' flag measuring 8ft by 4ft 8ins and itself now for sale.  All enquiries to me on the Field Telephone 07980 274 383.  I will have it with me on the stall on Thursday.  Thank-you.

Via Crowland Road

Once upon a time in Arcadia in the years immediately Post-War, ladies and gentlemen in search of adventure could bypass their local tackle shop and instead go directly to the maker of Auger Accessories who were based at their eponymous Works, 85b Crowland Road in the district of London known as N15.  There, with a little persuasion they could buy wire traces and other delights whilst checking on the progress of the "Heron" Bite Detector which from the June 1957 was manufactured and distributed by Auger.

Today, in this the year 2014, ladies and gentlemen in search of adventure should note that Auger Works closed its doors long ago but that should you feel the need for a pilgrimage to the site of their former works, London buses stop at the end of Crowland Road on a regular basis.  Afterwards, you are advised to cross the road and take a bus directly south down Stamford Hill past The Birdcage Public House and Abney Park Cemetery where the great taxidermist John Cooper is buried, in the direction of Commercial Street in the district known as E.1 where on Thursdays only between the hours of 8am and 3pm you will find my stall selling 'Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul' situated inside Spitalfields Antiques Market, and where, on the hour, tea is drunk in honour of the employees of Auger and all of the other small London firms who made fishing tackle so diligently in the Post-War Years.

Dreadnought

Bought last week on the road a Nottingham reel from the Dreadnought Class.  Converted from a standard starback into a brass caged centre pin with the addition of a large porcelain lineguard.   Most likely dating to the turn of the last century.  A unique and rather beautiful piece of working folk-art listed for immediate sale to Victoria's and Albert's in the wing of my website known as 'Just in, Sir!'.

New Dawn

Two Doors From Duke Street

Once upon a time in Arcadia, and most notably upon a Thursday in the century before last, ladies and gentlemen abroad on the streets of London in search of fishing tackles and requisites could call in at 'The Golden Perch' the premises of Alfred Young which were situated at 402 Oxford Street only 'two doors from Duke Street'.  There, they could converse with the proprietor G. Partridge and avail themselves of the items he had for sale on his list.

Should you be a lady or a gentleman abroad on the streets of London in this the year 2014 you are advised that Alfred Young closed their doors many decades ago but that you may find yourself 'two doors from Duke Street' and roughly in the year 1851 by visiting my stall at Spitalfields Antiques Market, where on Thursdays only between the hours of 8am and 3pm I buy and sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul such as that which was sold at The Golden Perch.

Impromptu Festival of Cardboard and Tin

This morning there has been an Impromptu Festival of Cardboard and Tin involving items for immediate sale for quantities of ironed fivers in the corner of my website known as 'Just in, Sir!'

C.O. Minchin

Bought on Thursday morning from a gentleman dealer a parcel of ephemera relating to the author and angler C.O. Minchin.  A portrait of him taken in at The Wykeham Studios in 1911, a copy of his book 'Sea Fishing' published in the same year by Adam & Charles Black (London) and a silver medal struck by Spink & Son of Piccadilly, awarded to Minchin for his capture of an 18lbs. Coalfish off Looe on 12th September 1900.

Spitalfields

A most convivial day spent drowning in tea on the stall yesterday in the splendid company of the Spitalfields Regulars.  I look forward to doing the same next Thursday.  

On Prince Albert Street

Once upon a time in Arcadia, and most probably on a Thursday in early June, ladies and gentlemen abroad on the streets of Brighton in search of bait or repairs would hurry along to Prince Albert Street, where, at Number 5, G.T. Butler (Practical Angler and Member of Brighton, Hove & Excelsior Angling Club) had been running his Fishing Tackle Stores for over 38 Years.  In this time Butler's had become 'A Noted House for Bait' and 'All Kinds of Sea and River Tackle'.  The latter was sold in small  paper bags such as the one below.

Should you be a lady or a gentleman abroad on the streets of Brighton in search of 'All Kinds of Sea and River Tackle' on this the first Thursday of June 2014, you are advised to take the Iron Road from Brighton to London Victoria and from there the Underground Railway to Liverpool Street, from where, after a short walk of 5 minutes you will find yourself at my stall in Spitalfields Antiques Market on Commercial Street at which on Thursdays only between the hours of 8am and 3, I sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul in Paper Bags.  Thank-you.

The Iron Arm meets The Dolphin Brand Uptown

Found early on Sunday morning at the Annual Farnham Angling Society Car Boot Sale on the shores of Badshot Lea Gravel Pit a collection of smalls dating from the late 19th and early 20th Century.

Posted on June 1st 1898

Posted on June 1st 1898 at 7.30pm from Uttoxeter and forwarded again on the following day a letter to the occupant of The Rectory at Wooton-Under-Edge in 'Gloster' giving permission for their friend Mr. Palmer to fish at Loxley Hall.  The letter reads,  'Your friend(s) are welcome to fish in The Blyth two days next week - I cannot give leave to fish in Bramshall Brook as owing to the destruction of fish by The Rly (Railway?) Company discharging civic refuse into the water last season the fish there are almost extinct and I am trying to get up the stocks again - yours sincerely', with a postscript, 'Artificial flies only allowed!'